John Adams (October 30, 1735 – July 4, 1826) Federalist Party 1797-1801 Vice President: Thomas Jefferson(Democaratic-Republican Party)
President John Adams had a tough act to follow after the first president, George Washington, set the bar so high. President Adams deserves a letter grade of a B. Adams did many good things including avoiding a war with France and continuing to stay out of their quarrels with England. He did however split his party in the process of building Americas Army.
Adams realized that he needed to continue the Foreign Policy that was set up by Washington, especially staying out of the war going on between France and Britain. He did his best to keep these affairs in Europe, but after the Jay Treaty was passed under Washington to provide better terms with Britain, France began seizing the ships of American merchants. He did avoid an official war with France, but it wasn’t a peaceful time. He also tried to create better domestic policies. He did this by setting good examples of republic values throughout his presidency.
Adams had a relatively good relationship with Congress. The Federalist Party was the majority in both Houses. The congress had to respond to XYZ affair from France which demanded money from American before any discussion could be don’t on how to make relations better between the two countries. This was threatening to the new colonies because they could not afford another war, especially with the French. The president and congress acted quickly by building new naval ships and starting to build an army, so that they colonies could be defended if any threats were to come up. There were three main acts that were passed under John Adams. The Alien Friends Act gave the President the power to deport anyone who was seen as a threat to the peace and safety of America. The Alien Enemies Act gave the president the right to depots any resident aliens to their home country if America was at war with them. The other important act was the Sedition Act which made anyone who publicly criticized the government a criminal. Adams was not a big fan of any of these acts, but he signed them into laws because of the pressure coming from congress. These laws probably pushed the power of the executive branch too far, but it did extend the powers of the executive branch which hadn't been done much yet in America.
At first the slight hostility of America towards France was popular of the public. Avoiding a war with France and eventually making things friendly again between the two countries was probably the best thing Adams did during his presidency. Because the Federalists favored Britain and the Republicans favored France, it was hard to keep both parties and countries happy. France felt betrayed by America because France had helped the colonies become free from England, during the revolution. America did have and unofficial war with France, called the Quasi-War. This started the building of a bigger army in America under the command of George Washington and his second Andrew Hamilton. If America had gone to war with France they might not have survived because they were still young and developing. So it was smart for Adams to do his best to avoid a full blown war with France and also make things good by sending a peace diplomat to France. The worst thing done by Adams during his presidency was to his own party. Because many people in the Federalist Party favored Hamilton and not Adams the party had two views to start with. Because Hamilton was Major General of the army (second in command behind Washington) he basically took over the war department. Because Adams was pushed into this appointment he was not happy about it, and did not agree with all of Hamilton’s decisions. The Federalist started to go over Adams head on legislature and changed some of what Adams had wanted to be passed. They also wouldn’t let him appoint a Republicans to senior positions which would have helped gain some support from the Republican Party. This split the party more and instead of pulling the party together for the election they kept going farther apart.
One important think that Adams did was extending, to a degree, the power of the executive branch, especially with the Alien Enemies Act. Many presidents have used this power or something similar to it. The most notable of these was done by President Roosevelt during the Second World War He ordered Japanese Americans into internment camps, because it was a time of war between Japan and America. This act that was passed by Adams was also used during World War I. Lincoln also used something similar during his presidency. Another choice that effect more immediate presidents was not going to war with France. The war could have been long and drawn out and been passed down to other presidents. This may have also cost future generations a lot of money. Adams also, with the help of congress, started to build up a better military. He produced more navy ships and started to recruit more solders for both the army and the navy.
All in all a John Adams had a good presidential term. Even though he was not reelected, mostly because the Federalist Party is divided, he still had a successful term. He avoided a war with France and even got America back on good terms with them. He started to build up his army and improve the military power of the new country. Also Adams started to extend the power of the executive branch, something that had been avoided because Americans feared the idea of another monarch. He did not get an A because he did help to split his party, which cost him reelection. Adams did take his executive powers too far and violated the first Amendment Still John Adams had good presidency and made a lot of choices that impacted future Americans.
John Adams (October 30, 1735 – July 4, 1826)
Federalist Party 1797-1801
Vice President: Thomas Jefferson(Democaratic-Republican Party)
President John Adams had a tough act to follow after the first president, George Washington, set the bar so high. President Adams deserves a letter grade of a B. Adams did many good things including avoiding a war with France and continuing to stay out of their quarrels with England. He did however split his party in the process of building Americas Army.
Adams realized that he needed to continue the Foreign Policy that was set up by Washington, especially staying out of the war going on between France and Britain. He did his best to keep these affairs in Europe, but after the Jay Treaty was passed under Washington to provide better terms with Britain, France began seizing the ships of American merchants. He did avoid an official war with France, but it wasn’t a peaceful time. He also tried to create better domestic policies. He did this by setting good examples of republic values throughout his presidency.
Adams had a relatively good relationship with Congress. The Federalist Party was the majority in both Houses. The congress had to respond to XYZ affair from France which demanded money from American before any discussion could be don’t on how to make relations better between the two countries. This was threatening to the new colonies because they could not afford another war, especially with the French. The president and congress acted quickly by building new naval ships and starting to build an army, so that they colonies could be defended if any threats were to come up. There were three main acts that were passed under John Adams. The Alien Friends Act gave the President the power to deport anyone who was seen as a threat to the peace and safety of America. The Alien Enemies Act gave the president the right to depots any resident aliens to their home country if America was at war with them. The other important act was the Sedition Act which made anyone who publicly criticized the government a criminal. Adams was not a big fan of any of these acts, but he signed them into laws because of the pressure coming from congress. These laws probably pushed the power of the executive branch too far, but it did extend the powers of the executive branch which hadn't been done much yet in America.
At first the slight hostility of America towards France was popular of the public. Avoiding a war with France and eventually making things friendly again between the two countries was probably the best thing Adams did during his presidency. Because the Federalists favored Britain and the Republicans favored France, it was hard to keep both parties and countries happy. France felt betrayed by America because France had helped the colonies become free from England, during the revolution. America did have and unofficial war with France, called the Quasi-War. This started the building of a bigger army in America under the command of George Washington and his second Andrew Hamilton. If America had gone to war with France they might not have survived because they were still young and developing. So it was smart for Adams to do his best to avoid a full blown war with France and also make things good by sending a peace diplomat to France. The worst thing done by Adams during his presidency was to his own party. Because many people in the Federalist Party favored Hamilton and not Adams the party had two views to start with. Because Hamilton was Major General of the army (second in command behind Washington) he basically took over the war department. Because Adams was pushed into this appointment he was not happy about it, and did not agree with all of Hamilton’s decisions. The Federalist started to go over Adams head on legislature and changed some of what Adams had wanted to be passed. They also wouldn’t let him appoint a Republicans to senior positions which would have helped gain some support from the Republican Party. This split the party more and instead of pulling the party together for the election they kept going farther apart.
One important think that Adams did was extending, to a degree, the power of the executive branch, especially with the Alien Enemies Act. Many presidents have used this power or something similar to it. The most notable of these was done by President Roosevelt during the Second World War He ordered Japanese Americans into internment camps, because it was a time of war between Japan and America. This act that was passed by Adams was also used during World War I. Lincoln also used something similar during his presidency. Another choice that effect more immediate presidents was not going to war with France. The war could have been long and drawn out and been passed down to other presidents. This may have also cost future generations a lot of money. Adams also, with the help of congress, started to build up a better military. He produced more navy ships and started to recruit more solders for both the army and the navy.
All in all a John Adams had a good presidential term. Even though he was not reelected, mostly because the Federalist Party is divided, he still had a successful term. He avoided a war with France and even got America back on good terms with them. He started to build up his army and improve the military power of the new country. Also Adams started to extend the power of the executive branch, something that had been avoided because Americans feared the idea of another monarch. He did not get an A because he did help to split his party, which cost him reelection. Adams did take his executive powers too far and violated the first Amendment Still John Adams had good presidency and made a lot of choices that impacted future Americans.
Bibliography
Biography of John Adams- http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/johnadams/
John Adams Wikipedia- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Adams
U.S. House of Representatives- http://clerk.house.gov/art_history/house_history/index.html
U.S. Senate- http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/history/one_item_and_teasers/1787.htm
American Pageant Chapter 10